- 4carriers selling 2026 marketplace plans in Nueces County
- 64plans on the Nueces shelf, from 16 bronze to 23 gold
- $676benchmark silver for a 40 year old in Nueces, full price per month
Who sells marketplace plans in Nueces County
Nueces County has the thinnest carrier lineup of the Texas counties on my list, four companies. The biggest lineup in Nueces belongs to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas with 22 plans, about 34 percent of everything on offer.
| Carrier | Plans | Bronze | Silver | Gold | Network types |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas | 22 | 7 | 7 | 7 | HMO 13, POS 9 |
| CHRISTUS Health Plan | 16 | 5 | 5 | 5 | HMO 16 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 14 | 4 | 5 | 5 | HMO 14 |
| Ambetter from Superior HealthPlan | 12 | 0 | 6 | 6 | EPO 12 |
Nueces plan counts from the CMS 2026 landscape file (county FIPS 48355, Rating Area 7). Bronze includes expanded bronze, and companies CMS lists under more than one legal issuer are grouped with the legal names underneath.
What it costs in Nueces County before any subsidy
These are the full monthly prices, before any premium tax credit, for the cheapest Nueces plan at each metal level. I show the sticker price because it is what your subsidy is subtracted from, and most people who enroll in Nueces pay less, often a lot less.
| Monthly premium, full price | Age 21 | Age 40 | Age 60 | Couple, both 40 | Couple 40 + 2 kids |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest bronze | $316 | $404 | $858 | $808 | $1,291 |
| Lowest silver | $514 | $656 | $1,394 | $1,313 | $2,099 |
| Benchmark silver (second lowest) | $529 | $676 | $1,435 | $1,352 | $2,161 |
| Lowest gold | $441 | $564 | $1,198 | $1,128 | $1,804 |
Benchmark silver is the second lowest of the 23 silver premiums listed for Nueces. The last column is two adults aged 40 plus two children.
What these numbers mean if you live in Nueces County
The gold row is the surprise in Nueces County. The cheapest gold plan for a 40 year old, $564 a month, is $92 cheaper than the cheapest silver plan at $656. That happens because Texas carriers load the cost of the extra silver discounts into silver premiums. If your income is too high for those discounts, silver is the worst value on the Nueces shelf, and a gold deductible here tops out at $3,750.
In Nueces County the benchmark is $272 above the cheapest bronze at age 40, and only seven of the other 78 counties and parishes I track have a wider one. That gap decides whether bronze can be free, because your subsidy is the $676 benchmark minus what the government expects you to pay from your income. A 40 year old in Nueces whose expected share is $272 a month or less would pay nothing for the cheapest bronze. At 60 the Nueces gap grows to $577 and at 21 it shrinks to $213, which is why older enrollees are the ones most likely to find a $0 plan.
No other county on my list is close enough to Nueces County to compare, so here is where it sits among the 15 Texas counties I track. Its benchmark is the 9th lowest of the 15 and its cheapest bronze is the 5th lowest. Nueces has four carriers, where the busiest county has nine.
Nueces plans by metal level, network and deductible
| Metal level | Plans | $0 deductible | Deductible range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catastrophic | 2 | 0 | |
| Bronze | 2 | 0 | $7,300 to $10,600 |
| Expanded Bronze | 14 | 1 | $0 to $10,600 |
| Silver | 23 | 1 | $0 to $6,900 |
| Gold | 23 | 4 | $0 to $3,750 |
| Total | 64 | 6 |
There is not a single PPO on the 2026 marketplace in Nueces County. The 64 plans split into 43 HMO, 12 EPO and 9 POS. Outside emergencies, the 12 EPO and 43 HMO plans in Nueces generally pay nothing out of network, so the network list matters more than the premium. 6 plans in Nueces have a $0 medical deductible (4 gold, 1 silver and 1 expanded bronze). The one bronze plan among them still has an out of pocket maximum of $10,600, so a $0 deductible does not mean a small bill.
Every Nueces price on this page is before subsidies, and most enrollees pay less. For a 40 year old in Nueces the premium tax credit is measured against the $676 benchmark. Estimate your own subsidy, or send me your ZIP and I will run the Nueces numbers for you.
2027 plans for Nueces County
These are the 2026 plans and prices for Nueces County. The 2027 plans and prices are published around November 1, 2026, and I will update this page with the new Nueces numbers then. Open enrollment for 2027 coverage in Texas runs from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027, and December 15 is the last day to pick a plan that starts January 1.
Questions about Nueces County coverage
How many health insurance companies sell marketplace plans in Nueces County, Texas?
For 2026, four carriers sell individual marketplace plans in Nueces County: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, CHRISTUS Health Plan, UnitedHealthcare and Ambetter from Superior HealthPlan. Together they offer 64 plans across the metal levels, according to the CMS plan landscape file.
What is the cheapest health insurance in Nueces County?
At full price before any subsidy, the cheapest bronze plan in Nueces County is $316 a month for a 21 year old, $404 at 40 and $858 at 60. In Nueces a couple both aged 40 pays $808 for the cheapest bronze, and two 40 year olds with two children pay $1,291. Catastrophic plans in Nueces, open only to people under 30 or with a hardship exemption, start at $279 at age 21. Most people in Nueces who qualify for a premium tax credit pay less than these prices.
What is the benchmark silver plan premium in Nueces County for 2026?
The second lowest cost silver plan, the benchmark your subsidy is calculated from, is $676 a month for a 40 year old in Nueces County before subsidies. In Nueces it is $529 at age 21 and $1,435 at age 60, and the lowest silver plan is $656 at 40.
Is any insurance company leaving Nueces County for 2027?
None of the four carriers selling in Nueces County in 2026 is one of the confirmed 2027 exits I flag for Texas, which are Cigna and Baylor Scott and White. Smaller changes can still happen, so read your renewal notice. The 2027 carrier lineup and prices for Nueces are published around November 1, 2026, and I will update this page then.
Can I get a PPO plan in Nueces County?
Not on the 2026 marketplace. All 64 plans in Nueces County are HMO, EPO or POS plans. 6 of them have a $0 medical deductible, and the cheapest gold plan for a 40 year old in Nueces is $564 a month before subsidies.
More for Nueces County residents
- Health insurance brokers in Texas, how to choose one and what it costs
- Every 2027 carrier change in Texas
- How Nueces compares with the other 78 counties and parishes I track
- Estimate a Nueces subsidy
Get your Nueces County quote
Send me your ZIP and who needs coverage and I will compare every Nueces plan you qualify for with your subsidy applied, free and with no pressure.
Get my free quote → Or book a callSources
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, QHP Landscape Individual Market Medical, plan year 2026 (public use file), Nueces County rows
- HealthCare.gov, Health plan information for individuals and families
- healthinsurance.org, ACA open enrollment deadlines